Container with a sealing cover

ABSTRACT

A container assembly includes a container having an open top formed in an upper section of the container. The upper section of the container includes an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and a flange formed between the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces. The open top is defined by the inner peripheral surface. A cover made by flexible material includes a skirt which includes a first lip, a second lip and a valley formed between the first and second lips. When the cover is mounted to the open top of the container, the flange of the container is engaged with the valley, the first lip is fully in contact with the inner peripheral surface, and the second lip is fully in contact with the outer peripheral surface so as to form an air-tight status. By lifting the second lip, the cover is easily removed from the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container and a sealing cover, and more particularly, to a sealing cover that is air-tightly mounted to the container, and is easily opened.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

There are some type of food, such as tea, biscuits, seasonings, etc., easily absorb moisture in the air when they are exposed to the air for a long time. Therefore, the food is going to become damp and moldy, so that a well-sealed container or jar is needed.

A common way to keep the food from moisture is to put a desiccant into the container. Nevertheless, a well-sealed cover is still necessary to ensure the moisture is kept out from the container. Some people use a rubber band and a flexible film to seal the open top of the container. However, the tightness control of the rubber band varies from person to person, and it is difficult to judge whether it is completely sealed. Taiwanese Publish Number 223336 and 1585016 disclose “Containers with Controlled Opening and Closing”, and “A device for airtight containers”.

The above-mentioned disclosures generally includes a container body and a lid, and a control member is provided to the lid. The lid is mounted and covers the outer peripheral wall of the opening of the container. The lid includes an air relief hole, and the outer peripheral wall of the container includes a groove. A hole is formed in the inner periphery of the groove. The control member includes a control block, a buckle and a spring. By pressing the control member to control the opening of the hole. When the hole is opened, the air inside the container and the air outside the container body reach a balance, so that the lid can slide relative to the outer peripheral wall of the body, and the lid is opened.

The users have to press the control member first to open the lid, and this action may not be convenient for some users. Besides, the control member include three parts installed in a narrow space. The installation may take a lot of time. The control member involves a high cost.

The present invention intends to provide a container and a sealing cover, and sealing cover eliminates the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container assembly and comprises a container having an open top formed in the upper section of the container. The upper section of the container includes an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and a flange which is formed between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. The open top is defined by the inner peripheral surface. A cover is made by flexible material and includes a skirt extending downward from the top surface of the cover. The skirt includes a first lip, a second lip and a valley formed between the first and second lips. When the cover is mounted to the open top of the container, the flange of the container is engaged with the valley. The first lip is fully in contact with the inner peripheral surface. The second lip is fully in contact with to the outer peripheral surface.

Preferably, the outer peripheral surface includes a first groove and a second groove. The skirt of the cover includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein the first protrusion is engaged with the first groove, and the second protrusion is engaged with the second groove.

Preferably, the outer peripheral surface includes a ridge that is located between the first groove and the second groove. The second lip includes a third groove that is located between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. The ridge is engaged with the third groove.

Preferably, the cover includes a hole defined therethrough. A valve is engaged with the hole and includes an entrance and a slit. The entrance is located within the hole and opens toward the interior of the container. The slit is exposed to outside of the cover so that outside air of the container cannot enters into the container via the slit. When the cover is mounted to the open top of the container, air in the container enters into the valve from the entrance and expands the slit so that the air in the container is released through the slit in one way.

Preferably, the hole is located at the center of the cover. The hole is located between two recesses defined in the top surface of the cover.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the container and the cover of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container and the cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show the container and the cover of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show coffee beans in the container of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show that the user's hand pulls the second lip of the cover outward relative to the container;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view to show that the cover is opened from the container;

FIG. 8 shows that the cover includes a hole in which a valve is received, and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view, taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the container assembly of the present invention comprises a container 10 having an open top 11 formed in the upper section of the container 10. The upper section of the container 10 includes an inner peripheral surface 111, an outer peripheral surface 112 and a flange 113 that is formed between the inner peripheral surface 111 and the outer peripheral surface 112. The open top 11 is defined by the inner peripheral surface 111.

A cover 20 is made by soft and flexible material and includes a skirt 21 that extends downward from the top surface of the cover 20. The skirt 21 includes a first lip 211, a second lip 212 and a valley 213 that is formed between the first and second lips 211, 212. When the cover 20 is mounted to the open top 11 of the container 10, the upper section of the container 10 is enclosed by the skirt 21. The flange 113 of the container 10 is engaged with the valley 213. The first lip 211 is fully in contact with the inner peripheral surface 111. The second lip 212 is fully in contact with the outer peripheral surface 112. Therefore, the cover 20 is mounted to the open top 11 of the container 10 in an air-tight status. Two recesses 24 are defined in the top surface of the cover 20.

Preferably, the outer peripheral surface 112 includes a first groove 1121 and a second groove 1122. The skirt 21 of the cover 20 includes a first protrusion 2121 and a second protrusion 2122. The first protrusion 2121 is engaged with the first groove 11212, and the second protrusion 2122 is engaged with the second groove 1122. The outer peripheral surface 112 includes a ridge 1123 protruding therefrom, and the ridge 1123 is located between the first groove 1121 and the second groove 1122. The second lip 212 includes a third groove 2123 that is located between the first protrusion 2121 and the second protrusion 2122. The ridge 1123 is engaged with the third groove 2123.

As shown in FIG. 5, the container 10 is used to receive coffee beans 30 therein. The cover 20 is then mounted to the open top 11 of the container 10 to form an air-tight status in the container 10.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the user wants to open the cover 20, the index finger and the middle finger 43 of the user's hand 40 are put in the two recess 24 of the cover 20. The thumb 41 pulls the lower edge of the second lip 212 outward, because the cover 20 is made of soft and flexible material, so that the second lip 212 is deformed outward, such that the flange 113 of the container 10 is disengaged from the valley 213 of the cover 20. Therefore, the cover 20 is removed from the container 10.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cover 20 includes a hole 22 defined centrally through the cover 20. The hole 22 is located between the two recesses 24 of the cover 20. A valve 23 is engaged with the hole 22 and includes an entrance 231 and a slit 232. The entrance 231 is located within the hole 22 and opens toward the interior of the container 10. The slit 232 is exposed to outside of the cover 20 and normally sealed, so that outside air of the container 10 cannot enters into the container 10 via the slit 232. When the cover 20 is mounted to the open top 11 of the container 10, air in the container 10 enters into the valve 23 from the entrance 231, and expands the slit 232 outwardly so that the air in the container 10 is released through the slit 232 in one way. Therefore, the cover 20 is easily mounted to the open top 11 of the container 10. It is noted that when the coffee beans 30 creates air in the container 10 to increase the air pressure in the container 10, the pressurized air expands the slit 232 outwardly so that the pressurized air in the container 10 is released through the slit 232 in one way (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 9), while the outside air cannot enter into the container 10 via the slit 232.

The cover 20 can be easily opened by deforming the second lip 212 to separate the flange 113 of the container 10 from the valley 213 of the cover 20. The cover 20 includes a simple structure to achieve the purpose of sealing the container 10.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container assembly comprising: a container having an open top formed in an upper section of the container, the upper section of the container including an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and a flange formed between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, the open top being defined by the inner peripheral surface, and a cover made by flexible material and having a skirt that extends downward from a top surface of the cover, the skirt including a first lip, a second lip and a valley formed between the first and second lips, when the cover is mounted to the open top of the container, the flange of the container is engaged with the valley, the first lip being fully in contact with the inner peripheral surface, the second lip being fully in contact with the outer peripheral surface.
 2. The container assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral surface includes a first groove and a second groove, the skirt of the cover includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion is engaged with the first groove, the second protrusion is engaged with the second groove.
 3. The container assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface includes a ridge that is located between the first groove and the second groove, the second lip includes a third groove that is located between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, the ridge is engaged with the third groove.
 4. The container assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover includes a hole defined therethrough, a valve is engaged with the hole and includes an entrance and a slit, the entrance is located within the hole and opens toward an interior of the container, the slit is exposed to outside of the cover so that outside air of the container cannot enters into the container via the slit, when the cover is mounted to the open top of the container, air in the container enters into the valve from the entrance, and expands the slit outwardly so that the air in the container is released through the slit in one way.
 5. The container assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hole is located at a center of the cover, the hole is located between two recesses defined in the top surface of the cover. 